United States Grand Prix: Vettel on pole for Red Bull

Sebastian Vettel has put his Red Bull on pole for tomorrow’s U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, moving him closer to the world championship.

The United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, may be a new addition to the F1 Circus, but there was nothing new about qualifying for tomorrow’s 2012 U.S. F1 race – Sebastian Vettel is on pole for Red Bull.

Vettel now looks almost certain to take his third world championship with his only real rival – Fernando Alonso in the Ferrari – languishing in ninth place after a poor qualifying where he was outgunned by his own team mate – Felipe Massa – who took seventh spot.

It was a mixed day for McLaren with Hamilton coming close to pipping Vettel to pole in the last throes of Q3, but he had to settle for second, whilst Button in his McLaren ended in twelfth spot after his McLarens lost its throttle in Q2.

Behind Vettel and Hamilton sits the Red Bull of Webber in third place followed by Grosjean in the Lotus in fourth, Raikkonen’s Lotus in fifth, Schumacher in the Mercedes in sixth, Massa seventh, Hulkenberg in the Force India eighth, Alonso in ninth and the Williams of Maldonado in tenth.

It may be tempting fate, but it looks like Vettel could clinch the drivers world championship and Red Bull the constructors this weekend in Texas.